Knitting machine



41 3, 1929. M. Q ILLER 1,710,027 KN ITTING CHINE Fild. April 5. 1921 12 Sheets-Sheet INVENTOR 4 4 4 WITNESs BY M ATTORN April 23, 1929.

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April23,1929.. ER 1.710.027

KNITTING MACHINE Filed April 5, 1921 INVENTOR My 4 WITNESS Patented Apr. 23,1929.

UNITED STA TES PATENT OFFICE.

MAX C. MILLER, OF CUMBERLAND HILL, RHODE ISLAND, ASSIGNOR TO JENCKES KNIT- TING MACHINE COMPANY, OF PAWTUCKET, RI-IOIDE ISLAND, A CORPORATION 01! RHODE ISLAND.

KNITTING MACHINE.

The invention relates to that class of circular knitting machines in which the needles are mounted in the needle cylinder and are operated by cams and pickers arranged about the cylinder, the relative movements between the needle cylinder and needle operating cams and pickers requisite for knitting a tubular fabric provided at intervals with heel and toe pockets being produced by rotary and reciprocatory movements of'the needle cylinder.

The object of the invention is to improve and simplify the construction and arrangement of the various parts and mechanisms of a machine of this type and to that end the invention comprises the features of construction. and combination of parts hereinafter described and set forth in the claims.

The various features of the invention will be readily understood from an inspection of the accompanying drawings and the following detailed description of the machine illustrated therein.

In the drawings Fig. 1 is a left side elevation of a machine embodying all of the varir ous features of the invention in their pre ferred form, Fig. 2 is a similar elevation showing the upper part of the machine, Fig.

3 is a detailed elevation looking toward the right in Fig. 2, Fig. 4 is a right sideelevation of the upper part of the machine, Fig. 4* a perspective showing a part of the actuating mechanism for the yarn clamp and cutter,

- Fig. 5 is a vertical sectional elevation, Fig. 5 is a detailed view showing one of the yarn changer fingers, Fig. 6 is a similar view on a larger scale, Fig. 7 is a plan view of the latch ring and yarn feeding and changing mechanism, Fig. '7 is a perspective view of the yarn guide plate,'Fig. 8 is a plan View with the latch ring-removed, Fig. 8 is a sectional view of the parts carried by the pattern shaft, Fig. 9 is. a sectional plan bed plate removed, Fig. 10 is a detail plan view of the'web holder cam ring, Fig. 11 is a diagrammatic view showing a development of the cams and devices operating on the needle butts, Fig. 12 is a sectional plan view showing the mode of operation of the needle leveling mechanism, Fig. 13 is a sectional view along line 13, Fig. 12, Fig. 14 is a vertical sectional View showing the motion changing mechanism through which the needle cylinder is rotated and reciprocated, Fig. 15 is a detailed sectional elevation showing the View with the.

1921.- Serial No. 458,640.

mechanism for driving the fabric receiving can and Fig. 16 is a detail showing a part of said mechanism. i The machine shown comprises in general a rotary needle cylinder carrying the usual long and short buttneedles, a surrounding support or cam cylinder on which the needle operating cams and pickers are mounted, mechanism for rotating and reciprocating the needle cylinder, a series of yarn carrying fingers for delivering yarn to the needles and for changing the yarn during the knitting, mechanism for raising and lowering the needle cylinder to vary the length of stitch at different parts of the stocking, and an intermittently moving pattern mechanism carrying the various cams for automatically operating and controlling the various parts and mechanisms of the machine. The machine is also provided with mechanism which may be utilized in knitting half hose to auto- 76 matically level the needle after a half hose has been completed and then stop the machine preparatory to the transfer of a ribbed top to the leveled needles.

- The machine shown is provided with a ro- 80 tary needle cylinder 1, in which latch needles 2 are mounted in the usual manner (Fi s. 5 and 6). The needle cylinder is carrie on and connected to rotate with a gear 3, which is mounted to rotate within a supporting ring 86 4. The supporting ring is provided with three spiral or worm ribs 5 which rest upon rolls 6 carried by vertically adjustable supports 7. The ribs are held firmly upon the supporting rolls by rolls 8 which are carried 90 byverticallymovable plungers 9 and are forced against the upper sides of the ribs by springs 10. The plungers are mounted in holes formed in the cam supporting plate 11 and the springs and plungcrs are retained in place by over-lying plates 12 which may be readily removed in assembling the machine ,or for replacement of springs or plungers. By rotation of the wdrm ring the needle cylinder may be raised and lowered to vary the "length or tightness of the stitch or to change the relation of the needles and web holders in transfer work. The ring is forced in a direction to lower the needle cylinder by a spring 13 (Fig. 9) and is moved in the op- 1 posite direction through a horizontal rod 14, the forward end of which engagesan arm '15 depending from the ring, and the rear end of one or the other of the contact pieces determine the height of the needle cylinder at'various parts of the stocking, or during the leveling and transfer operations.

The needle cylinder is rotated and reciprocated through a gear 22 which engages the gear 3 and is secured upon the upper end of a short vertical shaft 23 (Figs. l, 5, 9 and 1 The lower end of the shaft is connected through a beveled gear 24: with a beveled gear 25, which is formed on the end of'a sleeve 26 loosely mounted on the driving shaft 27. A motion changing clutch sleeve 28 is keyed to slide on the sleeve 26 and may be shifted to connect the sleeve 26, and therefore the needle cylinder,'with either a continuously rotating pinion 29 or an oscillating pinion 30. The rotary pinion 29 is pinned to the shaft 27 while the oscillating pinion 30 is loosely mounted on the sleeve 26. The oscillating pinion is driven through an oscillating segment 31 connected by a link 32 with a crank pin 33 on a gear 34, which meshes with the rotary pinion 29, the gear being four times the diameter of the pinion so that it makes one revolution for four revolutions of the driving shaft. The clutch sleeve 28 is provided at each end with a projecting clutch tooth, one of which-is adapted to engage a recess in the side of pinion 30 and the other to engage a recess in the side of the pinion 29.

The mechanism for shifting the clutch to change the motion of the needle cylinder from rotary to reciprocating, or from reciprocating to rotary, comprises two cam rings 35 and 36'adjustably secured on opposite ends of the clutch sleeve and two radially movable pins 37 and 38. Each cam ringis provided with an inclined cam surface 39 adapted to engage the corresponding pin and to shift the clutch from one pinion to the other. Theclutch shifting pins are automatically raised and lowered and are spring-pressed so that they will ride on the cam rings when free to do so. After the active pin has cooperated with the corresponding cam ring to shift'the clutch it moves down inside the ring and acts to lock the clutch in shifted position. In Fig. 14 the pin 38 is in clutchlocking position and holds the clutch in engagement with the rotary pinion 39 while the pin 37 is raised and held in inactive position. When the motion is to be changed from rotary to oscillating the pin 38 is raised and the pin 37 is released so that it rides on the cam ring 35 until the inclined surface 39 on this ring engages the side of the pin and shifts the clutch to the right and into engageinent with the oscillating pinion 3O. The incline 39 is so located that the clutch is shifted while the tooth on the end of the clutch is in register with the recess in the pinion 30 and the clutch is quickly and positively shifted from the rotary to the oscillating pinion. i -is the shifting of the clutch is completed the pin 37'1noves down hack of the ring 35 and locks the clutch in shifted position. changed from oscillating to rotary the pin 37 is raised and the pin 38 released so that the clutch is positively shifted in a similar manner by the engagement of the incline 39 on cam ring 36 with the pin 38 and is locked by the pin as indicated in Fig. 14.

The clutch controlling pins 37 and 38 are alternately raised and lowered at proper intervals throughtwo levers 40 and d1, mounted on the stud 17C The forward ends of the levers underlie studs L2 projecting from the clutch pins and the rear ends are arranged to bear on cams 43 carried by the pattern cam drum. (Figs. Sand 8.) v

The driving shaft is driven through a belt passing over a pulley secured to the'outcr end of the shaft. The machine may be stopped by shifting the belt from the driving pulley ontoa loose-pulley 45 and may be started by shifting the belt'from the loose onto the driving pulley. The belt may be thus shifted by a belt shifter 46, which is forced in a direction to hold the belt on the loose pulley by a spring 47. The belt shifter may be moved to shift the belt onto the driving pulley and thus start the machine by a cam 48 secured to the inner end .of a

rockshaft 4-9, and arranged to act on a pin' 50 projecting from the belt shifter. The rock shaft may be provided with a handle at its outer end through which it may be con veniently operated by the operator. When the belt shifter is thus moved it is locked in position by a latch arm 51 projecting forward from a lever 52 and arranged to engage a notch 53 in the belt shifter bar. The forward end of the latch arm projects within convenient reach of the operator and the latch arm is held yieldingly in engagement with the belt shifter bar by a spring 54. In knitting half hose the latch arm may be automatically raised to release the belt shifting bar and thus stop the machine by a cam 55 on the pattern drum, which is arranged to engage one end of a bell crank lever 56 (Fig. 4). The other end of the lever is provided with an inclined cam surface arranged to act on and depress the upper end of a rod 57, the lower end of which is connected with the rearwardly projecting arm of the latch arm lever52.

The pat-tern shaft 21 is moved at proper intervals through a ratchet wheel 59 secured to the end of the shaft (Figs. 1 and 2). The ratchet wheel is provided with teeth which When the motion is to be again are engaged at intervals by an actuating pawl 61 mounted on a pawl-carrying lever 62 and forced in a direction to engage the ratchet by aspring 63. The pawl is norn'ially held out of action by a latch 6i pivoted on the pawl-carrying lever and arranged 'to hook over a lug 65 on the side of the pawl. The latch is disengagedto render the pawl active at suitable intervals by a lever 66, one end of which is arranged to overlie the tail of the latch and the other end of which is arranged in the path of a series of lugs 67 on a pattern chain 68. A spring 69 connects the latch and its controlling lever, and tends to hold the latch in engagement with the lug65 and to hold the lever in normal position with an arm 70 on the lever in engagement with a fixed stop 71. The teeth on the ratchet 59 are of difierent lengths and the engagement of the actuating pawl with the proper tooth when the-pawl is rendered active is insured by a guard 7 2, the position of which is automatically shifted to prevent engagement of the pawl with any but the proper tooth. The guard is formed on the end of a lever which is pivoted at 73, and the position of the guard is. controlled and determined by a cam 74 secured to the inner side of the ratchet wheel and engaged by a bearing piece 75 which is adjustably secured on the end of the guard lever. The lever is held in engagement with the cam by a spring 7 5 and the cam is so shaped that at each forward movement of the ratchet wheel the guard is properly positioned to insure the engagement ofthe pawl with the succeeding tooth when the pawl is next rendered active. In order to insure the proper timed relationbetween the pattern chain and pattern shaft and to automatically restore the timed relation in case itis' unintentionally disturbed. as in hand manipulation of the machine, the cam 7-1 is provided at one point with an abnormally low part, as at 76, which will so position the guard that engagement of the pawl with the tooth of the ratchet wheel next to be engaged will be prevented unless the guard is otherwise positioned to permit engagement of the tooth by the pawl. The guard is thus positioned by a timing or re-timing mechanism, comprising a lever 77, the upper end of which is arranged to engage a pin 78 projcct-ing from the guard lever, and the lower end of which is arranged at one side of the lower end of the pawl releasing lever66 and in the path of a single broad lug 67 on the pattern chain. If the chain and shaft are in proper time the low point 76 on the cam 74 is brought into register with the contact piece on the guard lever by the engagement of the actuating, pawl with the tooth corresponding to the lug 67 next preceding the broad lug 67 on-the pattern chain. When the pawl is to engage the next tooth the broad lug releases the pawl and at the same time the broad lug actuates the lever77 to so position the guard 72 that the pawl will engage the tooth and advance the pattern cam shaft 21. If for any reason the shaft and chain are out of time the shaft will be advanced step by step by thepawl as it is released by the successive lugs 67 until the to the lug 67 on the pattern chain.

The pawl-carrying lever 62 is actuated from a continuously rotating cam 79 secured to the end of a shaft- 80, which is connected with the crank gear 34 for actuating the oscillating segment of the mechanism for reciprocating the needle cylinder. The cam, therefore, makes one revolution and actuates the pawl during each complete oscillation of the segment or reciprocation of the needle cylinder. The cam is engaged by a cam lever 81 which is connected by a link 82 with the pawl-carrying lever. A spring 83 connected with the pawl-carrying lever tends to retract the pawl and holds the cam lever in engagement with the cam. Each time the pawl is retracted the end o the pawl rides against a fixed stud S4" arrangedto swing the pawl about its pivot and maintain it in position for the re-engagement of the latch 64 with the lug 65.

Since the various changes controlledor dictated by the pattern mcchanisn'i should occur at varying points in the revolution or reciprocation of the needle cylinder the pawlactuating cam 79 is preferably provided with a plurality of rises or steps properly distributed along the periphery of: the cam to give to the pawl a series of short and rapid advance movement-s timed with relation to the movements of the needle cylinder to coincide with the points at which the changes dic- 'tated by the pattern mechanism should be effected. This multiple step advance movement of the pawl not onlycnables the changes to be accurately timed without the necessity of extreme accuracy in the positioning ofthe controlling cams on the pattern drum. butalso enables the cams to be more compactly arranged about the periphery of the drum so that the diameter of the drum may be materially reduced. This feature, in 0011 nection with the variation in the lengths of the teeth ot the ratchet wheel engaged by the pawl, enables the movements imparted to the pattern drum to be so selectively controlled drum to be further reduced.

In makmg certain changes as, for instance, 7

in changing the yarns it may be desirable, under varying conditions, to vary the interval between two successive advance steps of the'pattern drum pawl and means is there fore provided for varying the relative positions of successive rises on the cam 79. In the construction shown the pattern drum is advanced by the step on the cam indicated at 8-1 to inserta new yarn and after a short interval is again advanced by the step to withdraw an active yarn. in order that the lap of the yarns may be varied the rise 81 is formed by a plate adj ustably secured to the depressing picker is held in lowered inactive position. When the cam is moved from uninain cam 79 and movable thereon to vary the position of the rise 81 with relation to the rise 85.

The pattern chain is advanced a step, for each revolution, of the shaft 80, and therefore astep for each tour revolutions of the needle The needle operating cams and pickers are mounted on the supporting plate,11, which is provided with a central cylinder 93 surrounding the needle cylinder (Figs. 5, 6 and 11). The upper edge of the cylinder torms a ledge 01 for underlying the needle butts and supporting the needles at the tuck level. The knitting cams comprise the stitch cams 95 and 96, the needle elevating or side cams 97 and 98, the lower center cam 99, and the .upper center cam 100, which is formed on a guard plate 101. overlying the stitch and side cams. The needle depressing picker 102 is a double acting picker having oppositely projecting lips adapted to overlie and engage two adjacent needle butts. The picker is in the form of an arm pivoted to the upper end of a vertical post 103, which is mounted to swing in a hearing bracket 104' secured to the plate 11. The picker extends through an opening in the cam plate 105, which is shaped to depress the picker as it is moved in the direction of travel of the needle cylinder by engagement with the needle butts so that the needle butts are delivered to one or the other of two cams which completes the depression of the needles into the active series. A spring 107 connected to the picker tends to move it up into active position with its inner end within a recess in the cover cam plate 108. The

picker is moved into and held ininactive position by a pin 109 mounted to slide through the'post 103 and engaging an inclined surder the pin the picker is released and is moved up into active position by itsspring. The s ngle acting needle'raising pickers ll l are similar in construction to the needle depressing-picker and their movement into or out of action is controlled in like manner by pins passing through the picker posts and acted upon by cams on the cam ring 112. A spring 116 is connected to the cam ring and tends to move the ring in a direction to release the pickers. The ring is moved in the oppo site direction and its position is controlled by a lever 117 provided at its forward end with a pin 118 arranged to engage a finger 119 projecting from the ring. The lever is provided with an upwardly projecting cam roll 120 arranged to be engaged bya cam 120 on the pattern drum (Figs. 8 and 8 The ring is normally in position to hold all the pickers in inactive'position; in going onto the heel or toe the ring is moved to throw the lifting pickers into action, and at the end of the narrowing is again moved in thesame direction to throw in the depressing wicker. At the completion of the heel or toe tlie ring is restored to normal position and throws all the pickers out of active position.

The instep cam 121 for raising the long butt needles into the inactive series at the beginning of the heel or toe and for returning the inactive needles to the active series at the completion of the heel or toe is secured on the inner end of a radial shaft 122 which is mounted in a bearing bracket 123 secured to the plate 11 (Figs. a and 8) A coiled spring 12st within the bearing for the shaft tends to hold the cam normally in raised position. The cam 15 lowered into position to raise the long needle butts by a rod 125, the upper end of which is arranged to engage an arm 126 secured to the outer end of the shaft 122. The rod is forced upward by a spring 127 which is strong enough to overcome the force of spring 12%. The rod is normally held in its lower position indicated in Fig. 4, by a lever 128, the forward end of which overlies a latorally projecting pin 129 secured to the lower end of the rod and the rear end of which carries a roll 130 overlying the forward end of the lever 40 which raises and lowers the pin for shifting the motion changing clutch into engagement with the oscillating pinion. During rotary knitting the lever 40 is raised and holds the lever 128 and the rod in the position indicated in Fig. 4 so that the instep cam remains in its raised position.

When the lever 40 islowered to efl'ect the change from rotary to reciprocating in goingonto the heel or toe the lever 128 and rod 125 are released and the spring 127 acts to swing the instep cam down into the position indi- I cated in Fig. 11 where it will engage the long butt needles and lift them'into the inactive series during the forward rotationof the needle cylinder preceding its first reverse stroke. When the motion is to be changed from reciprocating to. rotary at the comple-- of the needle cylinder and are provided with butts 133 which engage aconcentric groove 134 formed in a web holder cam ring 135 and are acted von by advancing and retracting cams arranged at a gap in the. groove (Figs. 4, 5 and 10). The cam ring is provided with two advancing cams 136 and 137 for advancing the web holders at the knitting points during rotary and reciprocatory knitting, and with two retracting "cams 138 and 139 for Withdrawing the web holders as they approach the knitting points. The cams 138 and 139 are rigidly connected with the cams 137 and 136 and are spaced therefrom to form a guideway for the web holder butts which positively, controls their movements and prevents over-driving of the web holders under the action of the advancing cams. The two sets of cams are carried on the inner ends of two radially movable cam carrier levers 140 and 141 which are pivoted at 142 and 143 to the web holder cam ring and are pressed radially outward by springs 144. Each set of cams is thus radially movable and its active position is determined by one of two stationary controller cams 145 and 146 adjustably supported upon a fixed bracket 147. The controller cams are so arranged that when the cam ring is in position for rotary knitting the lever 140 will be in engagement with the controller cam 145 and the advancing cam 136 will be held inactive position while the lever 141 will be pressed outward by its spring to hold the advancing cam 137 out of active position and the retracting cam 138 in position to retract the web holders pre paratory to their advance by the active advancing cam 136. Then the' cam ring is shifted on a reverse stroke of the needle cylinder in reciprocatory knitting the lever 141 will be carried into engagement with its controller cam 146, thus forcing the advancing,

cam 137 into active position while the lever 140 will be disengaged from its controller cam and will be moved outward by its spring to withdraw the advancing cam 136, from active position and to project the retracting cam 139 into active position. Thecontroller cams are so shaped that when the needle cylinder is raised or lowered. to lengthen or shorten the stitch they will-vary the radial position of the active web holder advancing cam so that the advance movement of the web holders will be varied in accordance with the variations in the length of the stitch.

The above construction and mode of operation of the web holder actuatingcams corresponds generally to that shown and described in Patents No. 1,483,904 dated February 19,

1924 and No. 1,483,905 dated February 19,

1924 issued to the present applicant,

The latch ring 148 of the machine is 1nounted for universal adjustment in a latch ring carrier 149 which is'pivoted at 150 to a supporting. bracket so that the latch ring and the parts carried thereby may be swung out of and into'active relation to the needles (Figs. 5, 6 and 7). The latch ring is provided with a. groove engaged by three studs 148' having eccentric heads fitting within holes in the carrier and clamped in adjusted position by the overlapping headsolf clamping screws 149. By turning the studs the verti cal position and inclination of the ring may be adjusted. The ring is centered and held in position horizontally by three adjusting screws 150. This construction is generally the same as that shown and described in Patent No. 1,447,354 dated March 6, 1923. The latch ring is provided with an opening or throat 151 through which yarn is delivered to the needles from any one or more of a series of yarn carrying fingers.

latch ring carrier and are provided with upwardly projecting arms 155 adapted to rest on a stop plate 156 on the bar and to determine the active or yarn feeding position of the fingers. The sixth finger 157 is shaped to pass over the bar and to rest on the bar when the finger is in active position. This finger may be utilized to deliever yarn to the needles during any desired part of the knitting and may also be utilized to deliver a splicing yarn to the needles for a part only of each course as, for instance, in high splicing above the heel or in splicing the sole of the stocking. Each finger has a rearwardly projecting arm 158 to which is attached a spring 159tending to hold the finger in its active position. The fingers are swung into inactive position by a series of actuating levers 160, the upper ends of which are arranged to engage the arms 158 and the lower ends of whichare pivotally supported upon a fixed stud 161. The levers are provided with contact lugs 162 arranged to ride on a series of cam rings 163 on the pattern drum. The upper ends of the actuating levers are held in alinement with the arms 158 by flanges 164 on the arms which. project on opposite sides of the levers. The levers are also provided at their upper ends with segmental bearing surfaces 165 which are approximately concentric with the stud 150 and which serve to support all of the fingers in raised position with relation to the throat of the latch ring when the latch ring is swung up away from the needles and thus maintain the yarns leading from the fingers to the yarn clamp within the latch-ring in proper separated relation while the latch ring is raised. The s ring 159 for the fin er 157 is connected direct y to the correspon ing arm 158 while the springs for the other yarn-carrying fin- I gers are connected to the respective arms 158 by links 166 which embrace the arms and have their forward ends seated within notches 167 in the arms (Fig. 6).

The mechanism for operating the yarn fin-v ger 157 to deliver its yarn to a part only of the "needles during each revolution of the needle cylinder, as in high splicing above the heel, or in reinforcing the sole, comprises a second actuating'lever 168 arranged at the side of the lever 160 and corresponding thereto in shape. This lever is provided with an arm 169 extending beyond the pivot stud 161 and arranged to be engaged bya cam 170 on'a slide 171 which is mounted to move radially of the needle cylinder (Figs. 5 and 9). The slide is forced forward bya spring 172 a and its forward end is provided with two bearing surfaces 173 and 174 arranged one out of engagement with the cams on the needle cylinder gear by a controlling lever '178, the forward end of which is provided with a cam surface 179 adapted to engage a' shoulder 180 on the cam slide and the rear end of which rides on a cam rib180 on the pattern drum. When the controller lever is on the high part of the cam rib the camslide 171 is held in retracted position with the arm 169 ofthe lever 168 in front ofthe cam 170, The lever 168 is, therefore, in retracted or inactive position. When the controller lever 178 rides onto the low part of the cam rib the cam slide 171 isreleased and moves forwardintoengagement with thecam rib onthe needle cylinder gear, the cam 170,

passing to a position directly in front of the lower end of the lever 168. Now during each revolution of the needle cylinder the cam slide is pushed back as the bearing surface 174 rides onto one of the wing cams andis.

retained in its rearward position by this cam or by the engagement of the surface 17 3 with the high part 17 7of the cam rib until the justment of the wing cams. Each time the 'cam slide is retracted the-cam 170 thereon swings the lever 168 in a direction to raise the yarn carrier finger 157, and each time the cam slide advances the cam 170 withdraws from the lever and allows the finger to move into active position.- The finger, 157 thus inserts and withdraws its yarn during each revolution of the needle cylinder so long asthe cam slide 171 is in action. When the cam slide is withdrawn and retained in mactlve position by the controlling lever 17 8 the movement of the finger 157 into or out of active operation. is controlled by its actuating lever 160.

Whenever the yarn finger 157'is operated at each revolution of the needle cylinder to insert and Withdraw a re-inforcing yarn the a stitch should be lengthened or loosened while the-linger is active and should be shortened or tightened while the finger is out of action I during each revolution of the needle .cylinder. To thus loosen and tighten "the stitch the needle cylinder is raised at the point'in its revolution where-the yarn finger 157 is rendered active and is lowered at the point where the finger is rendered'inactive. The v mechanism for raising and lowering the cylinder during each revolution comprises a cam 181 carried by the gear 22, which makes one revolution for each revolution of the needle cylinder and an arm 182 secured to the rod 14 and carrying an adjustable contact piece 183 which may be moved into and out of the path of the cam through connections leading to the pattern drum. The cam 181 in the form shown comprises two superimposed eccentric disks which are adjustably secured to the gear 22 by screws 184 and which may be adjusted relative to each other to vary the contour of the cam and thus determine the points at which the needle cylinder will be raised and lowered. ,A spring 185 is connected to the hub of the arm 182 and tends to swing the arm out of the path of the cam and thus render the needle raising and lowering mechanism inactive. The arm is swung into the path of the cam and retained in active position through a bell crank lever 186, one arm of which is connected through a link 187 with an arm depending from the hub of the cam arm 182 and the other end of which is engaged by the lower end of a vertical pin 188,, the upper end of which is arranged in the path of the cam 188 on the pattern drum (Figs. 4, 8 and 9). lVhen the arm 182 is 1n active position the cam 181 advances and retracts the rod 1 1 during each revolution of the needle cylinder and thus oscillates the worm ring 4: to raise and lower the needle cylinder and thus tighten and loosen the stitch.

Whenever the yarn is withdrawn by rais-' ing one of the yarn fingers 153 into its upper inactive positionor whenever the yarn 'linger 157 is raised into a similar inactive position 1) its controlling cam on the pattern drum tie yarn thus withdrawn from the needles is severed and held by yarn severing and clamping mechanism carried upon the latch ring carrier. This mechanism comprises two yarn holding clamps 189 and 190 mounted upon a plate 191 and a yarn severing hammer 192 cooperating with an anvil 193 on the plate (Figs. 5, 6 and 7). The two clamps are similar inconstruction and mode of operation to the clamps shown and described in Patent NO; 1,352,079, September 7 1920. The clamp 190 is pivoted to a support 19 1 rising from the plate 191 and the rear end of the clamp is engaged by the lower end of a pin 195, the upper end of which isacted upon by a cam 196 secured to the under side of an actuating slide 197 and acting to depress the pin and thus open the clamp.

The clamp 189 is pivoted on a transversely movable slide 198 which 1s drawn .i'orward' by a'spring 199 and is retracted through a lever 200 carrying a vertically projecting pin 201 arranged to be actedupon by a switchcam 202 carried by the slide 197. When the slide is retracted a pin 203 projecting laterally from the clamp 189 passes under a yielding switchcam 20 1 so that the clamp remains closed during its rearwardmovement. lVhen the clamp slide moves forward the pin 203 rides up over the switch cam 204 thus opening the clamp so that it passes over the withdrawn yarn and as the clamp slide completes its forward movement the pin drops-off the forward end of the switch cam 204 so that the clamp closes and holds the yarn until it is again retracted upon the withdrawing of another yarn. While the clamp 190 is open to receive a withdrawn yarn the idle yarns are held by the clamp 189 and the withdrawn yarn passes over the clamp andunder the open clamp 190. When the clamp 189 is withdrawn and advanced to receive and .206. The hammer lever is raised and dropped to strike a blow upon the anvil 193 by a cam 207 secured on the upper side of the slide 197 a and arranged to ride under a pin 208 which is mounted in the lever 205 and is yieldingly.

supported by a spring 209 so that it may yield to allow the passage of the cam during the return movement of the cam 207. The slide 197 may carry two or more cams 207 so hat the hammer may strike repeated blows upon the anvil whenever a yarn is withdrawn and is to be severed.

Whenever a yarn is withdrawn the travel of the needles carries it over the plate 191 and under the clamp 190 and hammer 192 which i have been opened to receive it. In order that the withdrawn yarn may be uniformly and accurately positioned above the plate 191, with relation to the clamps and severing device, a transverse guide plate 210 is arranged above the plate 191 in front of the clamp 189 and acts toguidethe yarn leading from the raised yarn finger to the knit fabric into position close to the upper side of the clamp 189.

To insure the passage of the yarn under the guide plate the.plate is provided with a forwardly projecting finger. 211 which extends into a position closely adjacent to the inner side of the needle series and, catches the yarn, thus preventing its passage over the end of the guide plate. The outer end oi the guide a plate is preferably provided with an iii-- .wardly and rearwardly' extending projection 212, the under edge of which is inclined and tends to deflect any projecting fabric down under the end of the guard during the reverse stroke of the needle cylinder in knit- T ting the heel or toe.

The mechanism for advancing and retract ing the slide 197 tooperate the yarn clamps and thread severing hammer comprises a spring 218; Fig. 1, which holds the slide in retracted positionand a lever 214 mounted on a fixed pivot and provided with a cam surface engaging the rear end of the slide. The mechanism for rockingthe lever to advance and retract the slide comprises a cam 215 secured to the rotary-pinion 29 ainltheref ore rotating in time with the needle cylinder (Figs. 5, 1(1, and 15). The connections be tween the cam and lever are normally inac; tive and are rendered active when the yarn severing and clamping devices are to be op- These" erated by a cam on the pattern drum. connections comprise a lever 2'16 engaging the cam 215 and provided with a hub 217 carrying a forwardly projecting arm 218 arranged to underlie the lower end of a vertical rod 219. The upper end of the rod carries a collar 220 provided with a laterally projecting pin 221 and tlie rod is held normally in its raised position by a latch 222 which is mounted upon a fixed pivot and engages the pin. The latch is held yieldingly in engagement with the pin by a spring 223 (Figs. 1, 5 and 6). The latch is disengaged from the pin by a finger 224 on the lower end of a swinging arm 225 which is arranged to engage a pin 226 on the latch. The arm 225 also carries a coupling rod 227 which isbrougbt-into position between the collar 220 on the rod 219 and the horizontal'arm ofth'e lever 214 when This coupling rod is mounted to slide in a bearing sleeve 228 which is pivotally supported on the arm 225 and is held yieldinglyin position with a pin 229 in engagementwith a stop finger 230 on the arm by a-spring 231.

.The arm'is swung about its pivot by a lever 232 having an arm arranged to be engaged by a series of pins 23 projecting from the cam disk 43 of the pattern drum.

lVhen a yarn is withdrawn the movement of the'patterndrum which operates a yarn carrier finger to withdraw its yarn also causes a pin 232 to operate the lever 232 and swing the arm 225 toward the leftin Fig. 4. This movement of the arm disengages the latch 222 from the pin 221 and also carries the pivot tor the bearing 228 into vertical alinement with the rod 219, the spring 231 yielding in case the rod 227 is carried against the collar on the upperend of the rod 219. The dis-- cam 215.

slide 197.

engagement of the latch releases the rod 219 so that it is free to move downward as the cam lever 216 rides onto the low part of the lVhen the rod moves downward the coupling rod 227 swings into position above the upper end of the rod so that it will be raised by the rod 219 when the lever 21G rides up onto the high part of the cam 215 and will rock the lever 214 to advance the Meanwhile, the pin 232' on the pattern drum has released the cam lever 232 so that the arm 225 and latch 22 are free to return to normal position as therod 219 completes its upward movement, thus releasing the lever 214 and re-engaging the latch with the pin at the upper end of the rod 219. The yarn is usually changed at the beginning of reciprocatory knitting in going onto the heel or toe and the yarn severing device should at this time be operated to sever the yarn as the needle cylinder and the oscillatin g segment are nearing the end of their forward stroke, since at this -point. in the travel of the needle cylinder the yarn is properly positioned with relation to the severing device. The cam 215 is, therefore, so. timed that the yarn severing hammer will act upon the yarn when the oscillating segment and needle cyl; inderhave nearly reached the end of their forward stroke and are about to be reversed.

It is sometimes desirable to provide a knit fabric with anti-run-back courses at one or more points. for instance, in knitting ladies stockings an anti-runback course is frequently introduced to arrest or prevent running in case of broken stitches in the garter top. The present machine is accordingly provided with mechanism for inserting antirun-back courses at any desired points and this mechanism is adapted to knit the form of anti-run-back courses shown and described in Patent No. 1,333.763, Mar. 16, 1920. In knitting this form of fabric a supplemental yarn is fed to alternate needles to he knit in with the main yarn for one or more courses. In order that the yarn may be thus fed means is provided for pressing forward alternate needles into such position that they will-fail to take the yarn delivered by the yarn chang ing finger which carries the supplemental yarn. As shown this means comprises a series of radially sliding pins 233 mounted in the upper end of the needle cylinder back of alternate needles and provided with enlar ed heads engaging the backs of the needles (Figs. 5 and 6) The inner ends of these pins project into the path of a cam 234 which is mounted in a sleeve 235 supported within the needle cylinder by pins 236 which projectthrough the sleeve into an annular groove in the interior of the needle cylinder. The cam 234 is normally in'rctracted inactive position and is projected into active position at the proper intervals by afwedge-shaped cam slide needle cylinder and then release it so that it may return to normal retracted position under the influence of the needles. The slide 238 is held in retracted position by a spring 242. In .order that the extent to which the needles are bent forward may be accurately adjusted the cam-slide 237'rests against the front face of an adjusting lever 243; The position of the adjusting lever is regulated by a vertically movable slide 244, the upper end of which rests against the cam surface on the lower end of the lever and the lower end of which restson the head of a vertically adj ustable screw 245. The lever 243 is mounted upon a fabric guiding tube 246 arranged within the cam carrying sleeve 235 and mounted in the upper end ofa cylinder 247 which is in turn secured within a supporting ring 248v attached to the casing 113. The slides 238 and 244 are mountedwithin the cylinder 247 and the sleeve 235 is held from rotation by a pin 247. connecting it to the tube 246. Y

lVhen the cam 234 is projected into active position every alternate needle is bent forward as it comes to the point-atwhich the supplemental yarn is delivered, so that this yarn passes back of these needlesand is delivered only to the tin-deflected needles. In order to thus feed the yarn the yarn finger 153 which carries the supplemental yarn is first lowered to'earry its yarn between two'adjacent needles and then after several needles have taken yarn, the yarn guide is raised to a 

